Every time I edit a chapter for this story, I find details I'd forgotten.

I'm glad everyone is enjoying this. There's plenty more – we're just getting into Steven's story, Alex has lots more to learn, and the teens – well the title IS Three Amigos in Love.

Chapter 19.

The next morning Marty and Nancy delivered Steven to his school, and then continued on to the hospital. "I'm going to check on Helen before I go to my office," Marty said.

"Mind if I come with?" Nancy put her hand through his arm.

He smiled at her. He'd been very pleased at how great she'd been with Steven, and now this. "No, not at all."

They found Bartlett talking to Helen, but she didn't seem to comprehend what he was telling her.

"Oh, Marty. I'm glad you're here. Dr. Bartlett just told me that I need even more tests, but haven't I had enough?" she asked.

Marty looked at the liver specialist before answering.

"Her liver panels indicate advanced cirrhosis," Bartlett said. "But we need to find out what other organs have been affected, especially after her collapse yesterday."

"So, that wasn't just from exhaustion?" Marty asked.

"Probably a lack of proper nutrition, too, whether from her limited diet or from her body's inability to process what she eats. I'm afraid she'll have to remain here for a few days," Bartlett said. "We'll pump her full of intravenous nutrients, too."

"Helen, you should do whatever Dr. Bartlett suggests," Marty told her.

"I'll go arrange the tests," the doctor said as he left.

They watched as he closed the door behind him.

"Helen, this is Nancy. My wife."

"Oh!" Helen slapped a hand to her mouth as if she wasn't sure what to say to the blond woman standing next to Marty.

"Bartlett is an excellent doctor." Nancy tried to reassure the woman.

Helen nodded. "Where's Steven?"

"We took him to school. He's fine," Marty replied.

"Oh, Marty. What's going to happen?" she cried.

"Bartlett will treat you, and we'll take care of Steven as long as we have to. I'll be getting the results of his tests later today. But that doesn't matter. He's a good kid, you've done a great job with him, and Nancy, Audra and I will be happy to continue caring for him until you're well again."

"I think he'd like some of his own things," Nancy suggested. "We'll take him to your apartment after school and get whatever he wants."

"Thank you," Helen said, trying to smile.

"Is there anything we can get for you?" Marty asked.

"A new liver?" Helen tried to joke. "No, Marty, I don't think there's anything."

"OK. We'll probably stop by again later to see you," Nancy said.

"Do you work here too?" Helen asked.

"Nancy's a doctor. She shares an office with Allison Cameron."

"Dr. Cameron was very nice to me yesterday," Helen said. "She has a darling little boy."

"She's a good friend and a very caring doctor," Nancy said. "Well, we've got to get to work. See you later."

At eleven, Helen had another visitor. She looked up as she heard the door slide, surprised to see the tall man she'd met outside Dr. Wilson's office. She was sure she'd seen him later in the cafeteria, too.

"Guess you liked it here so much you decided to stay," House said. "Feeling any better?"

"Uh, yes." She saw his blue eyes studying the monitors. "Are you a doctor?" It seemed unlikely.

He didn't answer, just took one of her hands and looked at it, frowning. "What's Bartlett doing for you?" he finally asked.

"He's been running more tests. I have to stay here a little longer I guess."

House nodded.

"House, what are you doing here?" Bartlett asked, as he entered the room.

"Just saying hello," House said.

"Well, it's good you're here. There's something that doesn't fit."

"You mean the fact that her palms aren't speckled and there are no nail changes?"

"Those too. I'd like you to consult on this case."

Later in the day, Marty returned. He'd gotten the results of Steven's tests, and he was smiling.

"Hi Helen."

"What...what did the tests show?"

"It's 99% certain that he's mine."

"Well, I already told you that," she said.

"I know. I know. We just needed scientific proof."

"And you'll continue to take care of him?"

"I already told you that," he said, echoing what she'd said.

"You're a Godsend, Marty! Thank you."

"What did Bartlett find?" he asked.

"He seems puzzled by something. He's asked Dr. House to consult."

"Good. There's no one better in the hospital."

"Really?" She was surprised.

"Really."

Chapter 20.

After school, Marty brought Steven back to the hospital to see his mother.

"But why does she have to stay here?" the boy asked for the third time as they entered the elevator to go up to Helen's room.

"They can't treat her unless they know what's wrong," Marty answered for the third time.

"Are you really my dad?" It was the third time for that question, too.

"Yes, Steven. And your mom wants us to take care of you. Don't you want to do what she wants? Don't you like it with me, Nancy and Audey?"

"I guess." The boy had enjoyed his time with them, but he didn't want to be disloyal to his mother and tell anyone how much.

But when Helen told her son the same things that Marty had, he agreed to stay with Marty and his family, at least until his mother could leave the hospital.

They stopped at the apartment on the way home. Marty opened the door with the key that Helen had given him.

"Steven, why don't you go get the things you want from your room," Nancy suggested.

The boy looked at her. "OK," he said and went off.

"I hope he doesn't bring too much," Marty said.

"I doubt that," his wife replied. "If he did it would imply that he's not coming back. He wants to believe that this is just temporary."

Sure enough, Steven was back quickly. "I just took a few things in my school pouch." It didn't look much fuller than it had before.

"Good. Let's go home and eat. Since it's Friday and there's no school tomorrow, Dr. Cameron invited us to come over later so you can play with Alex and meet Junior," Nancy told him.

The boy smiled. He couldn't wait to see his little friend again.

They'd called Audra to let her know that Steven would be coming home with them again. When they arrived, she'd already started dinner. Steven took his pouch to the room he was using, and by the time he came back, the beef stew and salad were on the table.

"House is consulting on Steven's mother's case," Marty told Audra as they ate.

"But I thought they knew what was wrong with her," the teen said. "Why do they need Uncle Greg?"

"I guess there are symptoms that Bartlett can't explain," Nancy supposed.

"Oh." Audra thought about that a minute. "Well, at least they asked him and he took the case."

"I'm going to see Alex tonight," Steven said. "And meet Junior."

"Allison invited us over," Nancy told Audra. "It seems that Alex has been asking to see Steven again."

Audra smiled. "Then let's finish eating and go," she said. "You'll get to meet Gretchen, too, and Uncle Greg," she told Steven.

"That's the doctor who's treating Mom?" His face scrunched as he tried to put everything together.

"That's right."

After dinner, the four of them drove the eight miles to the House house. As they drove down Appleton Boulevard, Audra pointed out "That's where my friend Ruth lives, and Justin lives in the big house behind hers."

Soon they pulled into the driveway of the ranch house where the House family lived. Alex answered the door as soon as they rang the bell, the dog by his side. He was excited to see Steven and have him meet Junior.

Cameron wasn't far behind him. "C'mon in. Greg and Gretchen are in the family room." They could hear guitar music coming from the back of the house.

Steven was surprised when they reached the room. An older man with the same blue eyes as Alex had, and a girl about Audra's age were each playing a guitar and singing. It sounded really good. So these were the doctor who was going to make his mother well again, and Alex's big sister.

"This is Steven," Alex announced, and they stopped playing. "Steven, that's my dad and my sister."

Steven said a shy 'Hi' that Gretchen echoed, but House just nodded at the kid, studying him.

"C'mon, lets go out back with Junior," Alex told his friend.

"Just come back in when it starts getting dark," Cameron told the two boys. After they left with the dog, she asked Nancy and Marty, "How's he adjusting to staying with you?"

"That's the easy part," Marty said. "He's fitting right in. But he's worried about his mother and wants to believe she'll be fine soon so that he can go home." He looked pointedly at House, but the doctor wasn't giving anything away.

"He can stay with us until she's well," Nancy said.

"He's my son," Marty added. "And I'll do anything I can for him."

They watched the boys and dog through the sliding glass doors for a while. The two girls were busy talking about Tommy's upcoming party on Saturday night. Cameron called the boys in when it began to get dark.

They burst into the room, still full of energy. "Can we play in my room?" Alex asked.

"Sure," his mother told him. "Just make sure Junior's paws are clean before you let him on your bed." She long ago gave up on trying to keep the dog off Alex's bed.

Steven followed Alex into his room and looked around in awe. A kid's computer on his desk, posters on the walls, toys and books, a palm reader, and a game cube.

"We can play Rocky Raccoon," Alex said. "I'll show you how."

Steven got the hang of it quickly and they were still playing when it was time for Steven to leave with Marty, Nancy and Audra.

"Did you have a good time with Steven?" Cameron asked Alex after they'd gone.

"Yeah. He's a great friend," Alex said with a smile.

"Well, it's time to get ready for bed," she told him.

"OK." He returned to his room, but was back again immediately.

"Mom! Mom! My palm reader's gone!" Alex shouted.

"Alex, calm down. Maybe you put it in a drawer."

"No. It was on my desk. I know it was."

They all had the same sad thought. Maybe Steven took it.